Beverage dispenser



J. E. STEWART BEVERAGE DISPENSER Apri 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1943 INI/ENToR. l JqMssEEv-EWHRT BY H TTORNE/Y.

1E, STEWART BEVERAGE DISPENSER April 25, 1950 Filed Deo. 20, 19425 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w mm Y L. A u i l E 0 NE.T m n, w J w w m 7 2l al W 9 April 25, 1950 J. E. STEWART BEVERAGE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deo. 20, 1943 W [N VEN TOR. EMMEEZSTEWHRT BY d, wir

i? TTU Ap'ri125, 1950 J. E. STEWART BEVERAGE DISPENSER J. E. STEWART April 425, 1950 BEVERAGE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20,. 1943 IN VEN TOR. E. 5TM/:: T

JQMES atented pr. 25, 1950 BEVERAGE DISPENSER James E. Stewart, Rye, N. Y., assignor, by mes'e assignments, to Stewart Products` Corporation,

a corporation of`Dela`ware Application December 20, 1943, SerialNo. 4514,889

This invention relates to improvements'in dispensers for beverages and other liquids, and has for an object the provision of dispensing apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid under pressure into a container.

`Another object of the invention is the provision of dispensing `apparatus,adapted to receive sealed containers of liquid, adapted to break the seals .and to deliver the liquid therefrom in equal measured quantities.

A further object of .the invention is the provision, in dispensing apparatus, of a member having aV measuring cavity formed therein, said member being movable from a lling position, where. its cavity maybecome filled with a liquid, to afd-ischarge positionwhere the liquid in said `cavity may discharge into a suitable container.

Anotherlobj ectV of the inventionris'the provision, in dispensing apparatus, of Ya member `having a measuring cavity of one size formed therein and a second measuring cavity formed therein, smaller than said first cavity, said member being movable from a filling position (where the first cavity is incommunication withA a source oflcarbonated water, and thesecond cavity is in communication `with aL source of flavoringsyrup) to a vsecond position, where bothsa-id cavities fmay `deliver the water and the syrup through .a discharge opening `into au drinking cup or glass.

A further object vof the invention. is the provision vin dispensing apparatus, of va cylindrical member movable. about its verticalaxis and having 'a plurality of measuring cylinders formed therein anda second plurality of smaller measuring cylinders also formedtherein, Vsaid first cylinders being equally spaced apart and said smaller cylinders each being positioned in denite relation to one of said first cylinders, means for movingv the cylindricalmemberlin steps, each step beingequal to the spaces ibetween the rst mentioned measuring cylinders, a discharge port in communication with lone of said rs't cylinders and withits companionsmaller cylinder and inlet ports in communication with the others, a

zo claims. (c1. zas-21) with the. discharge por-t, where their contents may source of carbonated water communicating with one or several of said inlet ports se that the cyl- Iinder or cylinders in communication therewith may become lled, filler ports in communication with one or'more of said smaller cylinders, with the exception of the one communicating with said discharge Dort, and a source of syrup connected to `said filler ports, whereby the cylinders and their companion Asmaller (syrup) cylinders, after being filled', 'may be advanced to communicate mix while flow-ing. out into a drinking vessel.

Yet another object ofthe invention is 'theprovision of apparatus adapted to -receive one or more containers of syrup, said containers being shaped to fita predetermined compartment in said apparatus, and theproyision of ,meansrfrming a leak-proof discharge connection through the bottom wall ot 4the container, and means Vforming anair vent in the upper wall of the 'container, said means acting to pierce thesaid walls asand while the container is being secured inthe compartment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

For the purpose of` illustrating the invention, I show a dispensing device employing a rotatable cylindrical member havingA vfour main cylinders, each having a companion auxiliary cylinder. The cylindrical `member,maybe advanced in steps of one-fourth of. a. revolution. each. A discharge port has a spoutwhich delivers thedrink `toa cup or container. `Both a main cylinder and its companon auxiliary communicate with. the discharge port, and the other three .mai-n cylinders come municate .with-.filler .ports which may be connected tola source of carbonated water under pressurethis may be a single source connected toall three ller ports,A or4 individual sources may be provided for each filler port.

For the sake of clarity I will'call the discharge position No. l, .the positionof the main cylinder, to be next'movedv tothedischarge position No.2; the position of thelnext main cylinder which will followNo-VZ) No.3; andthe position of the next main cylinder, No. 4, the latter is, of course-,the position which each cylinder leaving the discharge positionismoved to.

Assuming that charged tanks or water are con,h nected tothe iiller ports in positions 2, 3 and 4, the cylinders communicating with these portswill all immediately ll with charged water (the auxiliary cylinders will also ll with syrup as will hereinafter be described). Now, the cylindrical member is advanced one step to bring the cylinder in No. 2 position to the No, 1 or discharge position tobe dispensed. V.The cylinder that was. in No. 3 position Yis moved to No. Z'position,` but it will notv take Vin lany charged water in this position because it isalready full. The cylinder that was, in No. 4.- position is moved to the No. 3 position, but it` will not take in any charged water because it is also already full. The cylinder that was in the No. 1 position is moved to the No. 4 position,l and since itis completely empty, it lls with charged water.

v3 This process repeats for each drink dispensed, and in time the charged tank connected to the No. 4 position becomes empty. When this happens, the cylinders become lled in the No. 3 position until the charged tank connected there becomes exhaustedthen the cylinders will only fill in the No. 2 position.

The servi-ce man comes along and replaces the exhausted tanks in the No. 3 and No. .4 positions and immediately the cylinders in the No. 3 and No. 4 positions are filled. and as the dispensing continues the cylinders ll at the No. 4 position until the new tank is exhausted, then in the No. 3

position, etc.

The auxiliary cylinders lill by gravity at the same time as their main cylinders from individual containers ci syrup. The container in the No. 4 position empties first, then the No. 3, andthe No. 2; and as soon as replenished the No. 4 takes o ver and repeats.

I provide a spring loaded piston in each cylinder which facilitates the discharging and mixing of the beverage. I amV also able to dispense noncarbonated drinks, for example, orangeade, by putting the saine in tanks under pressure.

' 'Now, for illustrating the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vending machine cabinet having partitions broken away to show the dispensing apparatus and other cooperating elements;

Figure 2 is an end sectional elevation of the cabinet shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the dispensing units;

Figure 4 is a plan view of dispensing unit of Figure 3 as seen from above;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a View of the top of the cylindrical member with the upper head removed, showing the sealing tongues;

Figure '7 is a View, partly in section, showing mechanism for advancing the cylindrical member in steps of 90? for successively positioning a filled measuring cylinder and its companion syrup cylinder in communication with the disvcharge nozzle;' f

Figure 8 is an external view of the front of the cabinet showing the disposition of the cup fdispensers, coin slots, etc.;y

Figure 9 is a side view of the cabinet showing how the front may be opened;

Figure 10 is Va view looking down on top of the cabinet and showing how the front of the cabinet Referring rst to Figures 1 and 2,1111@ cabinet Y 20 has an insulated compartment 2| mounted.

therein. The upper end of the compartment 2| is spaced apart from the top of the cabinet to form a chamber 22 for a refrigeration high side unit (not shown). A door 23 giving access to the insulated` compartment also includes insulation and is hinged to the top of the insulated compartment by hinges, one of which is shown at 24. A suitable fixture 25 is mounted on the compartment 2| and is provided for securing the door 23 in its open position.

Below the compartment 2| is a space 26 for accommodating several pressure tanks 21, 28, and 29, and a receptacle 30 for receiving waste cups. The compartment 2|, it will be noted, is mounted against the rear wall of the cabinet, thereby providing space 3| between its front wall and the front wall of the cabinet and communicating with both the space 26 below and the space 22 above. The space 3l is adapted to contain cup venders, cup holders, discharge nozzles, coin mechanism, etc. Y

The cup venders are old and well known and need not be described in detail.Y One cup vender is provided for each station, and since the front of the cabinet 23, on which these are supported, is broken away to show other details, the locations of the' three cup venders employed in the device illustrated may be seen in Figure 8, where they are designated by the numerals 32, 33, and 34.

There are also provided, three cup holders, 35, 36, and 31 (Figure 1) one for each dispensing station. As the cup vender for a given station is actuated, in a manner to be presently described, it delivers a cup, right side up, to the cup holder with which it is associated. For example, the cup vender 34 delivers a cup to the holder 31, in time to arrive in position before the actual dispensing starts, therebymaking sure the cup receives the drink dispensed.

Vertically slidable doors 38, 39, and 40 may be provided to keep out dustv and dirt, and the pur- Chaser may slide the door, protecting his cup, upwardly and lift the cup containing his drink out.v After he drinks, he mayV shove the waste cup through one of the trap doors 4| or 42.

The insulated compartment 2| may Vcontain any desired number of dispensing units, however, in the embodiment illustrated, three such units 43, 44, and 45 are employed. Each dispensing unit is provided with a discharge nozzle which is .positioned abovethe cupholder associated therewith. In Figures 2 and 3, the discharge nozzle ||2 is shown on the -unit 45.

The tanks 21, 28, and 29 are respectively connected via pipes 41,48, and 49 to individual conduits formed in the refrigeration low side generally designated by the numeral 50, so that liquids from, the tanks may pass therethrough to be cooled. The delivery of refrigerant from the high side unit to the low side is effected through pipes 5|, and the suction connection lfrom the low side to the high side' is eiected through pipes Above each dispensing unit is provided a syrup or flavor container unit which will be described in detail in connection with Figure 3. lThe dispensing unit 43 may have a syrup container unit 53; the unit 44, a container unit 54; and the unit 45, a container unit 55. Y v

Referring now to Figure 3, an enlarged sectional elevation of the dispensing unit 45, and its associated syrup container unit- 55, is shown. A round section or member 56 has a central vertical hole 51 formed therein which .forms a working t on the shaft 58, see Figures 5 and 6 also.

Vertical holes 59, 68, 6|, and 62 spaced 90 apart, and equal radial distances from the center of the hole 51, are formed in the round member 56. The four holesV form measuring cylinders and should be ground or otherwise smoothly finished. "The r*rirernber *may 4"betriade of, or the cylinders Amaybe lined withffs'uita'ble materialsfto safely `contain the liquids to be dispensed witho'ut danger of contamination. An example `of such `metterial Vis stainless steel.

Extending 'from the upper-surface 4ofthe member 56 and positioned adjacent to the oli-ter 'ciricurriferehce thereof is an annular vVeshaped tongue. This `"tongue "lies between thei-circuni fference of the -member 'and the cylinders, 60, 61, andE'Z.

Also extending from 'the upper surface of ithe member 5e is a secondannular Vishaped tongue 64, which is substantiallysmaller than the lannulartongue 83. "In fact, the 'puter diameter of the tongue 6.4 lies quite lnear to-the inner cir-V cuniierence's of thecylinders', t0, 6|,"and '62.

Lying between theinnerdiameterdf' the tongue 6 'are vertical holes 65, e6, 61, 'and t8, the cerrter's of 'which `fall 'in radial alignment with the cy1inder'sf59,', ti, and t2, respectively. These holesare smaller indiameter than said cylinders and may form syrupineasuring cylinders.

i Between the inner circumferencesoithe holes B5, 66,157, and "S8, and thehole 51 isa third annular V-shaped tongue e9. The annular tonguese, "Bil, 4and 69 .are 'utilized 'for effecting seals tob'epresently described. On the opposite end (the lower surface) ofthe member 5B is 'a series 'of annular V-shapedtongues 10,'71, and "l2, identical withthe tongues "'63, 64, and 69 respectively.

Each of the cylin'der`s`59, l6G,tI/and'z isinternally threaded at the Vupper end `and fitted with closure disc 'i3 which `has*thread 'engaging the threads in thecyli'nders. In Figure 3, Aone such closure disc is shown' inthe cylindertl and the other in the cylinder 5S. The "cylinders 6e and' 62 are likewise'itte'd `withdiscs1 such as'th'e disc 13.

"The 'disc 'i3 has'a downwardly `depending boss "lll which is bored `out and threaded to accommodate .a downwardy projecting guidero'd T5, the upper -end oi which Ais 'correspondingly threaded.

Around the base of the boss 1-4 isfanxannular depression le which forms 'a seatfor'the'upper end `of Aa compressionispring "71. The lower end of the 'spring engages afpfiston"general-1y designated by the numeral 18 and 'mounted on thc guide rod it. Of course, there are ourguide rods-one for each cylinder-' and each guide `rod carriesA a piston 18.

Each-'piston 'lmay consist rof va A'disc 79`having a hollow hub portion 18d whichfoims a working fit on its guide rod'l'5, anda "second disc 8 l' spaced apart therefrom with a disc-82 of piston material, such as synthetic rubber, therebetween. Suitable-rivets t3 -extend through and lsecure these parts together to'form a unit. Thedisc @effects a'seal with this guide rod 'l5 interiorly, and Veiiects sealing engagement 'with the walls oi the cylinder in which it ismo'unted. The lower end of the guide rod l5 `has an enlargement 84 which limits the downward movement of A'the piston.

The extreme upper positionof thepistomand hence thequantity `of Mliquidiiinthe cylinder, may be controlled in several ways: bytheJ compression ci the spring 'H to the position whereall ``the cenvolutions touch eachother: or lby providing a Sleeve' on the guide rod 15. This sleeve per-4 mitsthe piston to move up to a position where the-sleeve is' engaged (-enidwise) byboththe'b'oss T4 and the 1Aboss *89. 'Byh'aving several *sleeves ci ldieient lengths, `the service 'man may quickly' change from one measured yquantity to another by iun'screwiifgf`the l'gide `rod 15, slipping Sofi the sleeve 85, substituting A"another :of a diiereht length and Ieplaih-g the guide IOd T5. This makes the tlevice very 'flexible fandfeasyito set `for -l'iveryf o'ifipredeterrnin'ed Iquanities'of liquid.

1 Vifsc 86 *formed of leather, plastics or "other suitable material joins up with the "top `'surface of fthe-'section or member V56, and .sealing is eifecteditherebetweenby the tonguesi63, '6.4, and 69. Wherethe1 discf is formed oi leather,pres Sureffnay "bei` employed to `cause these tongues to formffgroovesihtheileather. Where plastics are employed, the ygrooves niay'be molded or other'- Wise lformed therein.

A second disc 87 joins up with the `bottomsnrface @ifI the rnernber 55, and grooves therein-'eiect lil'd "tight "Seals with the annular 'tongues TU, 'H fand *12.

head "platet' abuts the Adiscl and `is provided with Vanah'ni'llar ange`89 which extends below the disc 586 and `engages the member ISS forming a working t with the upper periphery offsaidmeniber. The lhead plate has a central hole therethrough to accommodate the vshaft 58, and Lhas three threaded holes 99 therein 'to accommodate special fittingsffgl, which will presently vbe described.

SA'plurality of vents 19 la are 'formed in thedisc 8`6 and 'fin "theih'ead plateinfalignment with each dtherfeah'be'i'ng positioned 'above and in com*- munication withfa corresponding Ventiiz, iorrned in th'e cylinder discs "3,1when the cylinders are iii-normal position. `There are foursuch vents, one for each cylinder; and each vent permits 'air toeseapiewhen the cylinde'ris `beingllled with liquid, `and lets air into 4the cylinder which is discharging"itslliquid 4A vent '.93 is lin'th'e path f "the `a`.ux'iliary or fsyrup cylinders 65, et, it?, and "'68, *andiis positioned `in position to be in 'communicationwith-each of these cylinders as they 'reach 'the discharging position to supply airftotake the place-f the syrup flowing therefrom.

'Trrefseccndforbottom disc-8'! has ap'luraglity efihies'fei; =nne"for `each or the mais cylinders 59, W39, *EL and y632, lwhich `are lconcentric "with these cylinders when the 1 member 55 is vnormally atrest. Thedisc-l also has a hole formed therein,'with which-each ofthe syrup cylinders 65565, "Blfand coincide when they are moved to'ftheir fdisch'arge positions.

Abottomlp'late 96 abutsthe disc"8l and is provided -yvith an `annular ahge "el which extends above rthe *disc "87 and engages the `member TEE. fdrr'iiing `a `working "t with the lower periphery f said -f-rnemb'er. A central 'boss 98 is `formed integral-with thebottomizil-ate 96, and a hole therethrough to accommodate the shaft 5B. 'The hole in'afyl have afkeyway lformed therein tobe ehgag'edby akeylll carried by the shaft *58, and the"botten1 `plate `may be secured on 'the Shaftby tanut I'ii' engaging "the threaded end `o`f'the said shaft. Thehead plate 'E38 :is pro-4 vided with bosses -lIlLand the bottom plate is proyidedwith corresponding bosses 4t2.

cre'ssmember 1153 positioned above the head plate *BB Yis provided `with 'angular ends, one''f is shown- `at 164,' through which bolts, such asfthoseshewnfat |05 "for securing the-crossmember in the `compa'rtment v2|. Holes "IIUSa in thecross-member are inalignmeht with the holes in-thebosses fllll ral'idlll, and tie-rods lutz-havL ihg'ftthreaded etuis `are Epositioned y'invthe' aligned a-.somsee holes'in the bosses and cross-member; Nuts |01 engage the lower ends of these rods and contact the bosses |02. Nuts |08 engage the upper ends of these tie-rods and contact the upper surface of the cross-member |03. Nuts |09 also engage the upper ends of the tie rods between the crossmember and the head plate l88 and bear against the lower face of the cross-member so that the latter is rigidly secured between nuts |08 and |00. Between each nut |09 and each boss |0I are compression springs I|0, which embrace the tie rods and exert downward pressure on the head plate 88. The shaft 58 also passes through the cross-member |03, and a compression spring I I I, similar to the springs |I0, is positioned on the shaft 58 between the cross-member and the head plate 88.

The b-ottom plate 96 is provided with a discharge nozzle I I2 which has a passage I3 formed therein. The discharge end of the passage may carry a strainer I i1, and the inner end of the passage widens out and terminates in holes ||4 and H5 in the bottom plate. A deflecting web IIB is adjacent to the hole ||4. The hole |I4 communicates with the hole 94 through which the main cylinders when in the discharge position, deliver the liquid. The hole l5 is in alignment with the hole 95 through which the auxiliary or syrup cylinders, when in the discharge position, deliver their contents to the passage ||3. The web ||6 deilects the liquid passing in via the hole ||4 causing a swirling thereof and facilitating the mixture of the same with syrup passing in via the hole |15, and this mixing is furtherfacilitated by passage through the strainer ||1.

The bottom plate 86 also has three bosses ||8 in axial alignment with the main cylinders 59 that are not in the discharging position. These bosses are each provided with a hole ||9 which coincides with its neighboring hole 94 in the disc 81. The bosses are externally threaded to accommodate ttings |20, pipes from which lead to the several cooling sections of the evaporator The member 56 has four notches |2| (one for each main cylinder) for use in advancing the same in steps of 90 degrees, as will presently be described in connection with Figure '7.

A plate member |22 has a boss |23 with a hole therein to accommodate the shaft 58. Embracing a portion of the length of the boss |23 and contacting the plate member |22 and the crossmember |03 is a spring |24. The plate member |22, as may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, is in the form of three quarters of a square, with the corners |25, |26, |21, and |28 ofthe square severed at right angles to the diagonal linesthereof. In place of the fourth quarter is a triangular sector |29.

Secured to the plate member along the severance line |25 is a vertical web |30 having a portion |36a extending radially, and a portion |30b angular to the main portion of the web and extending toward the severed corner |26, where a vertical web |3| is secured. The web |3| has a midpoint extension |3|a extending radially, a portion |3|b extending toward and invalignment with the portion |3019, and a portion |3|c extending'toward and in alignment with an angular extension |32c of a web |32 extending across the severed corner |21. The web |32 also has a midpoint radial extension |32a, and a second angularportion |3212 which extends toward and in lalignment with'V an angular portion |3317 of a 8 web -|33"extending-across the severed corner |28. The web |33also has a radial portion |33a.

In alignment with the radial portions |30a, |3|a, |32a, and |33a are corresponding radial members |34, |35, |36, and |31 respectively, located on the plate member |22 adjacent to the shaft 58.

When a syrup container |33 is to be positioned on the plate member |22, the web portions |34, |3011, |30, |301), |3lb, |3|, |3|a, and |35'dene a socket to receive the container. Likewise the web portions |35, |3|a, |3|, |3|c, |32c, |32, |32a and |36 form a socket to receive the container |39; and the web portions |36, |32a, |32, |321), |331), |33, |33a, and |31 form a socket to receive the` container |40.

The three special bushings 9| above referred to are positioned in the threaded holes 90 in the plate 88, and these holes are in alignment with the auxiliary syrup cylinder positions 2A, 3A, and 4A, while the auxiliary cylinder position lA in Fig. 4 communicates with the vent 93 (in Fig. 3).

' The bushings 9| extend through corresponding clearance holes formed in the cross-member |03, and holes in alignment therewith in the plate member |22. A sealing mat |4| of rubber or the like or any other Vsuitable material is positioned on the plate member |22, and the syrup containers when in their operative positions have their bottoms forced into intimate contact with the mat I 4|.V The upper ends of the bushings 9| extend through holes in the mat |4| aligned with the holes above mentioned, and'have a V-shaped slot |42 formed therein and knife edges |43 formed thereon. Normally the mat has a thickness extending up almost to the peaks of the knife edges |43, so that when a container is positioned in one of the sockets, these peaks are in contact with the bottom ofthe container and, as downward pressure is applied to the container, the knife edges pierce the bottom of the container. As the container continues to move downwardly under pressure, the rubber of the mat is compressed and the knife edges |43 form a hole in the bottom of the container through which the syrup may flow freely into the auxiliary cylinders below.

On the upper end of the shaft 58 is a spider |44 having a hole therein to accommodate the shaft, and three arms |45 which are curved downwardly and terminate with sharp points. The upper end of the shaft 58 is threaded and carries, above the spider |44, a washer |46 and a wing nut |41.v After the syrup containers are positioned in their sockets, the spider, the washer and the wing nut are applied to the shaft, and the wing nut is screwed down, thereby applying pressure to the spider, which pressure is thence imparted to the containers. As the wing nut |41 is screwed down, the knife edges |43 pierce the bottom of the container as above described, and at the Asaine time the sharp ends of the spider arms |45 pierce the tops of the containers and form air vents |48 therein to admit air to the containers as the contents flow out into the auxilary cylinders as above described.

In Figure 4, the main measuring cylinder 5 is shown in the discharge position (in communication with the discharge nozzle ||2). This positlon-is termed, position No. l. It Will be understood that as the machine continues to be operated, the main cylinders 60, 6I, and 62 are successively brought to this position No. l, where the contents thereof are discharged. The auxiliary or syrup lcylinder 65 is shown in its disateniese charge position; in Figure 4, ,with-l the upper" end communicating with: ther-vent 93 and the-flower` end discharging,` into the.: `discl'iarge nozzle. ||2 (along with. the; `contents.` of.Y the:cylinder` 59). This V.position is termedfposition No. IAX and as the machine isopcrated, thefotherauxiliarycylinders are successively brought tothisposition.y

The main cylinder 6|): is: shown` in-V a position termedfpositioni No. 2,?? whereitrihas been lledt. as will; be. herei'naftlerp described;V andf-z willf, upon.. 10 the; next. operation of T,thermachine;.bewmoved to' the discharge position` (positiontNmJ). The"` companion auxiliary cylinder 66 isshownain-a`4` positionterrnedj position No. 2A.

The maincylinder 6|:-isfshownnin. a position` 15 termed positioni No.. 3;?? which-is two .operational` steps away from the; discharge position; and its? companion-auxiliary cylinder.y 613 is-.shownf` in a position;` termed: "positione Noe 2m? which: iis lalsou two operational steps;I away@ Troma:its;.discharge.` 2n positions4 1 The;` main. cylinder; .62 .,is. shown .t in: ar position z termed: position mNo. ...4,' which l.isi the position'.4 intoxwhiclr the; disehai'gedtorxempty'cylinders are moved,toaironrpostionLNmtL andritsfcorn-panion auxiliary cylinder $8 is showm im. a. position;` termedrpositiorrpllo.:421.13*

N ow,` considering .therauxiliaryffor synup`= cylin=-` ders. any emptyauxiliary:cylinder?Inox/edilfronfil` position :Nor 1A- to positionzaN. 4A;is: immediat" y# yalvedl intocommunication with the interiorioi` the iittin'g 9;|.:;Zpe1:manen.tlyflocatediinlthe No. ./tAi-.. positiom` andv communieating?ysrithuthefsyrupmom4 tainei-.r Mtg.. whereuponsaid auxiliarycylinderf fills with syrups (asxlong .as .fanyf remains inY the icona- 35 tain'er |.40)1..\. Uponzthefncxt operatic11,24 the iiflle'd?l auxiii'aryicylindermoved "posi-tion No; Shiv where.` iti` communicates with:thelA flttingi 'lmanentlyllocatedlin'sthis pesitionandli fr ,1 communicating"withrthe y.containeri |39@ Due to` 40 the fact that thisl:` cylinderi` was@g al:` when inipositioneNoi 4 more syrup; so nothing ppensf` Uponfft e-'next'J operationathscylindlerf moves! "stlie'i/No i fZAJl po' sitionbiinr communicationlwitiil-Ifthe container? |382 45 but here again, nothing@Happens-becausethis* auxiliary cylinder `was Ifpreviouslyeiilld' posi# tion Nos-41h and-Jcannotiltale' iii anym'or syrup?- Uponfthelnext sucoeedingtoperationoil theni chine, the said auxiliary cylinder is moveol-to pol" 50 sition\.No'.\ where it discl'ia'rges;--` D'urin'gf the steps jusedischarged theotherauxiliary*cyline-J dersL` have been` successively` moved tlfirouah" theI4 position No; 4A- ane-filled? Assuming that the servi-cer. comes alongandre# places .empty containers'| 40"' and |39, the"`auxil iary. cylinders 'in position o? 4A. ands N'..`3"A"iin= mediately; jiill; and containerl again supplies"- 05 theV syrup untilt empty; therri'contain'erml'39, until emptygyand. againV containerf'etc:

In Figure l1 is shown diagrammaticallii a`pr`e" ferredl', way of.' connecting j. tanks?. the pressureA tanks,21,28,"'and`29ftolthe apparatusl. TheevapL- A U orator may `consist oftlirecisections |'4 8,1' |49," and l'llglall identical;` candfeacl section; may be cfa-type as ill'istratedin.,Figure .12; where an. intermediate .sheetlcriplatel 5.|a haslafpreffrrned'ff 10 terV or beverage welded or otherwisev` secured thereto. in u'i'd` tight relation; The plate |5|' also has secured to its opposite face a seconde pre=formed plate' |54 with passages |55 formed therein for the refrigerant;

The `reirig'erant passages |55 inthe threesections have their upper ends connected in multiple with branch pipes |56 andi to the suctionl line 52- leading to the compressor |51; A motor I ldrivesthe compressor and the compressedre-'-' frigerantis deliveredtto the condenser |59 to'bc cooled by fan |60. liquied and collected in re= ceiver. |54.. The` liquid@ line 5| leads from thereceiuerzto-an expansionvalve |62; whence the ree frigerantis led in parallel to theV lower ends-of' thecond-.uits |555*- By thisarrafngement the-wai'` ter or beverage is Very: efciently cooled.

rIfhe vtank 2'! is connected via-pipe 41 to the lower end of the passage: |53 in section |48, and' thevupper end ofthe passage is connected to a. pipe |63 which feeds branch: pipes |54 leading? tothe No;l 4 `positions inthe dispensing units. 43,@` 44,-and-45 (Figure11).

The. tankA 23Y is connected via` pipe 4B tothelow'er end` of thefpassage |53; in section |49,` andi` theizupper. end ofv this passage is connected via` pipe. |65 and branch pipes |66 to the No. 3 posi-: tion in thedispensing-units143;44, and 45.

Likewise the tank 29 liseconnected via pipe 49 to the lower end oi the passage |53 in sectionfl |501 and the upperend of this passage isconnectedviawpipe |91 and branch pipes |68 to the- Noi. zipositionsin the three .dispensing units.

lThe syrup containers I3 |39; and |4l||iare inf;n dicated as delivering syrup respectivelyto |56` (position No. 2A), 61,. (positionSA) and l|i i8 (position4A) respectiyely (as is shownlin Figure 4),. The syrupcontainers for Afeeding the saine posi" tiorisrin dispensing unit 44, are designated |."`"8}V |39A, and |4U`A; and ncorresponding containers`` for feeding the same positions dispensing iin` 43fare` desighatedrespectivelyY ISBB; |3`9B, MDB.`

l From this' h'ocklup itw'ill' be "s'eenthat," due tlie`fact"that the main" cylindersoffany' ofthe' three units; when 4moyeu from the Noi ier/dishW chargepcsition to"the"No. l'l'positioii will1 iriiinei datelyfb'e 'lledfoln'tlietank `21 adiat'thesafiie" time itsAV companion* auxiliary cylinderL Willi fill* with syrup from syrup conta-inei |4133 MUA, o'r |4l|B (depending ons whieh-ldispensingt unit'Y was operated).`

As soonf as Athe? tank 27| l approaches lemptinesso its -pressurebecomest reduced, but an importanti feature of. my/systemf issthatwanyi! cylinder lle'd'f. at-liowered .pressuresds` subjected( toffthe Lpressurel` of I one? or; 'moreV fullywchargedttanks flbeforei it reaches the-discharge position.\ Fori example;A when tank 2 is almostfempty1andits pressure-` islowered, the cylinders supplied byzit in the No. 4 position, movetothel No.8 and. then theiNouZ position before..i'eachinglxthedischarge: -or No# 1 i I position, andsince theftanks supplying; the No.

water: withfa higher pressure, the contents oh said. cylinders are actually fortiied Now, sincethe mainmcylinders contain i only charged-- water., ,fortifying-fthischarged water cannot-.pro` duceLfoaxn.- Y 1 Y Whentankll becomesfexhausted, the main cylinders arethen supplied from tank29,when theyfarrive inl-the Nol-.3!position- Whenvtank`12`8" becomes exhausted the cylinders are filled .when l theyarrive in. ther-No. 2 positions. AThe servicefiV man` can. thenremove?ancilreplace` tanks'` 21 and' 28with freshly charged'ones, and immediately theA cylinders start lling inthe No. e position from the'newv tank21.'

`Another arrangement might be to connect .a very large tank to position 2, but such a tank of carbonated water would be unwieldly for the serviceman to handle, and furthermore how can he tell when" the tank will be empty? l I`find that'having several tanks of a size conveniently handled, the service man may replace those tanks which are empty or susbtantially so, and render better all-round service.

-The'service man can detect at a glance, and replace any empty syrup containers, due to the fact that the fittings'Si are transparent. In Figure 13,Y one form is shown, wherein a metallic portion |69 carries the V slot |42 and the knife edges |43 and is molded onto or otherwise secured to a transparent tubular body |10.

When the containers |48, |46A, and |40B delivering Vsyrup toY the` auxiliary cylinders in the No. 4A positions in the dispensing units 45, 44, and 43, respectively, become empty, the containers|39, |39A,`.and |39B then start delivering to I the Vauxiliary* cylinders when they arrive at the No. '3A positions, and when they become empty, the containers |38, |38A, and |38B start delivering to the auxiliary cylinders when they arrive in the No. 2A positions in the several dispensing units 45, 44, and 43.

1twill be understood, of course, that this action isautoinatic, and comes acout as follows: with all containers full or practically full, all auxiliary cylinders fill from containers |46, |49A, and |46B, in the several dispensing units, in the No. 4A positions, and as the dispensing units are operated,`the auxiliary cyimders which have been filled in the No. 4A position, are advanced to the No.8Al position. 1n the No. 3A position, they are in contact with syrup in containers |39, |39A, and 139B, but since they are already full, they can receive no syrup from containers 39, |39A, and|39B. 1f one or more auxiliary cylinders had beenonly partially niied in the No. 4A position (due to the fact that one or more containers |48, etc., in the No. 4A position were completely exhausted), they would finish filling when they arrived Vin the No. 3A position, from containers |39, Isae, and 139B. Y

Filled auxiliaryV cylinders arriving in the No. 2A position cannot receive any syrup from the containers |38, |38A, and ISBB; however, partially filled or empty auxiliary cylinders arriving in the No. 2A position can, therefore, when the containers |39, ISSA, and |39B, in the No.

whereinl the round section or member 5c is pro-Y vided with four equally-spaced notches |2| previously described. A rachet arni ill has a curved engaging end |12 adapted to engage any one of the notches |2|. 'ihe rachet arm has a longitudinal slot |13 formed therein. A head member |15 has a lateral slot |14 formed therein in which the rachet `arm |1| forms a working fit. Pinsla extending through the head member at right angles to the slot |14 and extend through the slot |13 in the rachet arm and serve to'limit the fore and aft movement thereof. y

The head member |15' is mounted on a shaft |16 which, in turn, is reciprocally mounted in a member |15, carried thereby, to its normal position. (The position shown 'in solid lines in Fig. '1.) One end of the spring means engages the wall 2| and the other end engages a, cupped bushing |96 mounted on the shaft |16.

The shaft |16 carries a cross stub shaft |83, as may be Vseen in Fig. 9, and this stub shaft engages a slot |84 formed in the operating lever |85. The lower end of the operating lever is journaled on a shaft |86 mounted in a yoke member |81 on the casing 26.

A depression plate |89 mounted in the cabinet 22 (Figs. 8, 9, and 10) forms a niche in the front door 28a thereof in which the handle |85 with its knob |88,and also the yoke |81 are normally positioned.v vIt will be noted that the door 20a may be opened without disturbing the lever or any of the mechanism connected thereto.

Returning to Figure 7, the shaft |16 and the rachet arm |1| are shown in their normal positions in solid lines. tion No. 2Y and its companion syrup cylinder in position No. 2A are respectively full of carbonated water and syrup. Now in order to dispense the liquid in these cylinders, they must be advanced to the No. land the No. lA-positions, which means rotating the member 56 one quarter turn (90 degrees). The handle |88 is grasped and pulled forward,l thereby moving the shaft |16 to the leftV as viewed in Figure 1, and causing the rachet arm (which engagesV the notch |2|) to move the member 56 in a clockwise direction until the rachet is halted by a definite stop |9| which is secured to the wall 2| by means of bolts |92.

When the rachet arm |1| engages the stop |9|, the member 56 has been rotated 90 degrees and the main cylinder has advanced from the No. 2 position to the No. l position and the companion cylinder has, at the same time, advanced from the No. 2A position to the No. 1A position, and both are in communication with the discharge nozzle ||2 (as may be seen in Figure 3). YAs soon as the handle |88 is released, the spring means |82 returns the lever, the shaft and the rachet arm to their normal positions ready to be operated again.

Within a casing |93 is mechanism shown in detail in Figures l5 and l6. On each shaft |16 is carried a key membel` |94. The mechanism includes beveled lock-out slides, or blocks |95, |95A, the total lengths of which are equal to the length of the space Within the casing minus the thickness of aV single key-sothat when any one key is between them (due to the advancing of one of the shafts |16) no other shaft can be operated.

|98, 20;-the price bar |99, 15; the price bar 200,

The main cylinder in posi- "170m fand :the prioerbor 201,35c. Gamzblocksi'nay be provided .for associating Lany 4price bar with any delivery mechanism. .ForfexampldLthecam block 262 rhasa rearwardly-extending tongue .203' which nts ina corresponding :notch in fthe price bar. 200, :thereby associating themechanism :carryingthe key .|54 with fthe 2001er l0 price bar.

Connected to` a .coinmechanismlll 6 (notshown in detail) is a positionable member .195;having la notch .2,84 `formed Ltherein, `which is `:advanced laterally with respect to the ends o'f Vthe `price bars in accordance with the `Lvalue'of thezcoinsinserted in the coin mechanism. .For example,ithe .notch .126.4 is shown lin .line with Lthe price ybar 2ll,..a position-:corresponding.to 10c. Nowpi'f the key .L84 is moved .foi-(ward, :it .engages surface v2.0.5 of the cam block r2.112 :and .urges -theend lvof the price Lbarilll .into the. notch .2204, permitting the .shaft HE '.to continueito be :movedtoeiiect .thedispensing .of .the beverage (-by:advanc`ing r the lcylinder from .the `l\Io.;2'-,position to the iNo. Al position and its companion F:from fthe ENO. 2A '.position .to the No. position). Ifutheupositionabl'e member ,H55 Awere in a :position whereiitsnotch 2.04 .is not :in line .with :the .end .of ithe .price bar `.2.0.0 (due tothe insertionof .moreor less .than .10c iin-.the coinmechanism) the endfof the `price bar `211i) would bemovedinto .contact .with a solid portion of ,the positionable member 1.95 'andfurther movement ,of the-shaftlil isimpossible.

The .cup .mechanism is of a "type usually `employed in vending .machines 4which delivers fa cup,

"toa station'to receive .-zafbeverage. .-Reerring .to

.Figure,1e, `the cup'mechanismlM isshownfin; part. It includes an arm carrying/.a camzjend `or button 12015 which, when actuated, :releases the `bottom `cup Z531. The released cup 201..-is'guidedby1the :curved `portion `of .a idepending .plate :28 .('Figure A2) which supports the xicup holder .37, the cup landing in the holder right-sideup.

InFigure 1.7 is shownan arrangement permitting the door to be slid upwardly without releasing a fresh Ycup and. atfthesame time-insuring .the release of a fresh cup `.when `the ldoor is returned to its normal position.

When a-purchaser raisesthezsiidable .glass door 40, by grasping the .knob .2519 land .pulling .Aup- .wardly, access maybe had to the thenffllled cup Vin the holder .31. While the :glass .door 40 Ais `raised as described, a `stud ..2I extending rearwardly through a vertical slot 21.011, rachets `over the button `llt withoutactuatingit. When the purchaser removes the iilled cup from the .holder and releases the door 4U, it lslides back 1down to its normal p osition, withthe result that v .the stud 2id, moving in .the vopposite direction. gpositively engages and '.actuates the :button 203.

by a screw ZES normally urges the end 2H] up `to a horizontal position4 with the angularsurfaces 12|? in contact. When .the door moves upwardly .fand .the outer .end y 210 ,encountersgthe y.button i265, the Vspring '.215 yields and allows the .end :21B to swing on .the pivot-:pin `'21H5 .and "rgachet past the button it. :When l.the door `moves downwardly, the surfaces :Zl'l come together,

.making the stud rigidanditactuates the `.button 286.

.of the Ttank of :carbonated `water connected to the No. f4 position becomes Vsubnormal., the carvbonated water delivered to a main `rrneasuring cylinder in the No. 4.position is strengthenediby fluid contact with the carbonated `.water of :the tank connected 'to the No. 3 position Y'whenthe turret is rotated to 'move saidmain fineasuring cylinder to the No.13,position,iand maybeiurther strengthened yby the fluid contact with the carbonated water in the tank-connected Ito the. -2 position when the :turret `is movedto `bring.:said cylinder to the No. y2 position.

The pressure 4in .the tanks -may ube, lor 4exe ample, 125 pounds fto the square -inch `gat `full chargefand when the tank is about empty,

V:the .pressurehas dropped `to about 30 pounds .to

,thesquare inch, therefore Vthe fea-ture described above effects the ffortifying or increasing `the `strength of the :carbonated water 4`in the main `Vcylinders asthey progress toward the No. :1 p1' deliveryyposition. Y

If have found that .Ifcan proportion the springs FH acting against the pistons 18 so that the piston Vcannot be `displaced after la predetermined low Ypressure is reached bythe tank. It will 'befreadily apparent that -asthe `pressure (in the vtankcon, fnected in the No. 4 position, `for example) .de- .creases and lapproi'iches the minimum. pressure capable Lof displacing "the piston, iless 'and fless carbonated water is delivered tothe cylinders in tthe No. 4 position; and then when the moreor less partially -llled cylinders arrive 'in the No. 3 position, Vthey encounter ycarbonated `water at a :much higher `pressure and their filling .is com pleted. This results in thernxing ofthe stronger and `weaker carbonated water, producing .water `of a satisfactory strength.

In time, `the pressure ofthe `tank connected .to

-the No. `3 position becomes gradually iweakerso 4that less and less icarbonated Water .is .delivered to the cylinders in the No. -3 position. However, lthe lcylinders as -they leave No. `3 position and `next arrive in the No. 2 position encounter lanother fully charged tank connected to-.the No. 2 position, with `.the vresult that the carbonated `Water vfrom the last-mentioned tank finishes .fill- `ing thecylinders in the No. 2 position .and the weaker and `the stronger Waters mix to form a Vsatisfactory `carbovnateci water for dispensing.

.lead carbonated -water to the No. 2 position in all ythree dispensing units, Figure 11, may disable ,the coin release mechanism and Yprevent the 4mach ine `from beingfoperated.

A The spring "I1 may in some instances be wound with certain portions `.of its length less resilient .than other portions-thereof, or 11 may comprise spring vmeans including two or more springs of `.different resiliencies which are eiective for different portionsof the pistons in the cylinders.

Although I have shown and described herein Adispensing apparatus for illustrating the rinven- Ation, it will Vbe .understood that many changespmay berna-de in the arrangementsherein shownwithe `:out ,departing from .the of the .invention as set forth in the annexed claims.

The term turret employed herein should be taken Yto mean a body 'movable on an 4,axis .in .the

gshave. described .herein-.that when the pressure 75 `@tops .and .means to .eect .such ..movement. y 4,

'It will b understood that the main cylinders v 'substantially' the same manner as shownfor Y tanks 21, 28, and 29. If these tanks all vcontained an orange drink 'for instance, the tank y2'! would supply all of the main cylinders when Ivthey arrive at the No. 4 position (62) until the tank 21 is exhausted, then tank 28 Would supply the cylinders in the No. 3 position (6 l) until that tank is exhausted, then tank 29 would supply the 'cylinders when they arrive at the No. 2 position V(60); and since the orange drink is complete 'it 'would not be necessary to use the auxiliary 1cylinders at all. If the containers of non-carbonated fruit drinks are positioned substantially above the dispensing units, they will deliver the fruit drinks thereto by gravity, especially if the springs 'l1 are right. These arrangements are vgiven as an example. Obviously, many other arrangements may be made Within the scope of the invention.

It will also be understood that, although I show V:t'our main cylinders and four auxiliary cylinders in each dispensing unit, I may use a greater or a lesser number of main and auxiliary cylinders in t each unit, and I may use a greater or lesser numy ber of units, and further in some instances I may stainless steel or glass sleeves of different thickliquida second auxiliary cylinder coinxnunicatY ing with a source of syrup adapted to be filled therefrom by gravity, a discharge nozzle,- and means for removing the cylinder and the measuredg'quantity of liquid therein from the iniiuence-fof said liquid source and said auxiliary cylinder from communication With said source of syrup and placing them in communication with saiddischarge nozzle, whereby the ejection of the liquid from the cylinder is abetted by the urge of said spring means on said piston and the syrup flows 'from said auxiliary cylinder an niingles with said liquid.

' 3. In a beverage dispenser, a body member hav.-l ing a center hole therein forming a journal, a shaft with which said journal forms a working t,"a plurality of main cylinders formed in said body member from endto end substantially equidistant .from said center hole and substantially equidistant 'from each other, supporting means for said shaft, an auxiliary or companion cylinder formed in said body for each of said Vmain cylinders, a stationary head memberengaging ,nesses The capacities of the a xiliary cylinders v may also be varied in the same manner.

Having described my invent-Eon, I claim:

1. In a beverage dispenser, a measuring cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, stop means adapted to be engaged by said piston, said cylinder being adapted to be subjected to a source of liquid under pressure, thereby causing said piston to be displaced by said liquid until it comes to rest against said stop, a second auxiliary cylinder communicating with a source of syrup adapted to be filled therefrom by gravity, a discharge nozzle, and means for moving said cylinder from the inuence of said source and said auxiliary cylinderfrom communication with said source of syrup and into communication with said discharge nozzle to deliver the measured quantities in a mixed state therefrom.

2. In a beverage dispenser, a measuring cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said Ycylinder, spring means normally urging said pisone end of said body member and forming a closure for corresponding ends of all said cylinders, a second stationary head member engaging the other end of said body member and forming a closure for all of the other ends of said cylinders, both said head members making fluid tight contact with the'ends of said body member, a discharge port formed in one of said head members, a plurality of inlet ports also formed in said last mentioned head member, said ports normally communicating'with said cylinders at least one of said inlet ports being adapted to be connected to a source ofcarbonated water, said auxiliary being adapted to receive syrup from a source of the same cylinders, and means for rotating said member in increments or steps corresponding to the spacing of said cylinders to moved a lled cylinder and its auxiliary cylinder into communication with said discharge port.

4. In a dispensing machine, a round elongated body member having a plurality of main cylinders formed therein, an auxiliary cylinder formed in said body for each of said main cylinders, a fixed head member positioned on oneend of said body member with a sealing member therebetween, a second fixed head member positioned on the other end of said body with a second sealing memberr therebetween, said sealing members serving to isolate all said cylinders from each other, said main cylinders'being adapted to be iilled with carbonated water under pressure via one of said heads, said auxiliary cylinders being adaptedv to be filled with syrup or iiavor via the other of'said heads, a discharge nozzle carried on one of said heads, and means to rotate said body in steps to conjointly bring a lled main cylinder and its auxiliary cylinder into communication with said discharge nozzle for dispensing their contents.

5. VIn a beverage dispenser in which a predetermined quantity of carbonated water and a predetermined quantity of syrup are adapted to be delivered to a container, a support, a deormable mat on said support, a piercing conduit extending through said support and said mat and having piercing edges substantially level with the upper surface of Vsaid mat, saidmat being adapted to have a syrup containerV positioned Y thereon and said conduit being adapted to pierce said container, a vent piercing member adapted to contact the upper surface of said container,

.means for exerting force upon said .containergvian said member and thereby causing said member and said conduit to pierce the top and bottom ofv said container respectively and compressing said mat to effect a seal between said bottom and said conduit, and a series of means traversing a path adjacent to the lower end of said conduit and adapted to receive syrup from said conduit sequentially.

6. In a beverage dispenser, a generally horizontal support having a plurality of upstanding edges and extensions thereof forming a preshaped socket of a predetermined depth adapted to contain a sealed container of iiuid havingl a crosssection and a height substantially like that of said socket, conduit means for leading iluid from said container, means for piercing the bottom Wall of said container and placing the interior of the container in iluid tight relation with the interior of said conduit, a vent forming member adapted to pierce the top of said container, and means for causing said member to function.

7. A beverage dispenser according to claim 6, in which said support has a plurality of preshaped sockets, one of said conduit means being provided for each socket, each socket being adapted to receive a pre-shaped container with the fluid therein in communication with the conduit means therein, means for forming vents in said containers, said conduits terminating along a predetermined path, a movable member having a plurality of measuring cavities formed therein, and means to move said member in steps to cause said cavities to traverse said path, whereby said cavities, filled by iluid from one of said containers, traverses the ends of the other conduits of the series and receives fluid from the next succeeding conduit only after fluid in the container connected to the preceding conduit is exhausted.

8. In a beverage dispenser, a generally horizontal support having means associated therewith to form a plurality of pre-shaped sockets of predetermined depth each adapted to receive a sealed pre-shaped uid container, piercing conduit means in each socket, means for exerting pressure on said containers to cause each conduit means to pierce the bottom of the container in its socket, means for venting the tops of said containers, means for placing the interiors of said conduits in fluid tight relation to the interiors of the containers with which they are associated, the termini of said conduit means being disposed along a portion of a predetermined path, a discharge port positioned on sa-'d path, a member having a plurality of measuring cavities formed therein, and means for moving said member along said path in steps to cause said cavities to sequentially traverse said path, whereby the rst conduit means delivers Iiud to said cavities successively and the then filled cavities traverse the termini of the other conduit means before reaching said discharge port.

9. In a beverage dispenser, a series of tanks of carbonated water under pressure, a measuring device and means to move the same in steps,

each of which places it in fluid contact with the water in a diilerent tank of said series a spring loaded piston in said cylinder adapted to be displaced by water under pressure greater than a predetermined minimum; whereby said device, when incompletely filled from a tank in which the pressure is substantially reduced due to repetitive withdrawal of liquid therefrom, has its contents strengthened by fluid contact with at least one 18 other tank in said series in` which the pressure is higher.

10. In the art of dispensing beverages, the method of strengthening the points of carbonation of measured quantities of carbonated water drawn from a source of said liquid in which the pressure is reduced by repetitive drawing therefrom yand the points of carbonation of the water are consequently reduced which includes the step of drawing oif a portion of said carbonated water proportionate to the pressure on said source, and the further step of adding to said portion additional carbonated water, from a second source of carbonated water at a pressure higher than that of said iirst source the points of carbonation of the water from said second source being consequently higher, to make up or complete said measured quantity.

11. In a beverage dispenser, a plate forming a support and having a series of ports formed therein at least one of which is a discharge port and the others of which form inlet ports adapted to have tanks of carbonated water individually connected thereto, a cylinder in contact wit-h said plate and adapted to receive via one end thereof a measured quantity of liquid from the rst inlet port in said series, a piston in said cylinder, spring means urging said piston toward said plate, said spring means exerting via said piston a predetermined urge upon the liquid in said cylinder, whereby as the pressure of the tank of carbonated water connected to said rst inlet port becomes substantially reduced due to repetitive withdrawing of liquid therefrom, said spring means permits less and less liquid to enter said cylinder, the tanks of carbonated water connected to the other inlet ports in said series serving, as the cylinder traverses said last ports, to nish lling the cylinder and to fortify or strengthen the carbonated water in the cylinder, thereby effecting the delivery of carbonated water at satisfactory pressures as said cylinder is moved into communication with said discharge port.

l2. In a dispensing machine, a plane support, a turret in iluid tight contact with the surface of said support and means for advancing said turret along a predetermined path in steps on said support, a discharge port in said support, a liquid supplying port in said support spaced apart from said first port along said path, a plurality of measuring cylinders formed in said turret in spaced relation to each other, the spacing being similar to the spacing of the ports, a diierent one of said cylinders being moved into communication with said discharge port each time said turret is advanced one step, a spring loaded piston in each cylinder and urged toward said support, said supplying port being adapted to be connected to a supply of carbonated water under pressure, whereby each empty cylinder, after being advanced along said path from the discharge port, traverses said liquid supplying port and lls with said water before it is again advanced along said path to bring it into communication with said discharge port, said piston being displaced by said water as said cavities are lled, and adapted to facilitate the discharge of said water therefrom. l

13. In a beverage dispenser, a body member rotatably mounted on a shaft, a plurality of measuring cylinders formed in said body equally spaced radially from the center of said shaft and angularly equidistant from each other, a spring loaded piston in'each cylinder, closure members at each end of said member and forming closures being individually' connected to sources or" liquid under pressure for sequentially delivering said' liquid to said cylinders anddisplacing said pis'-v tons as said memberl is rotatably moved on said shaft in steps in communication with said other ports, said pistons being' adapted to facilitate the discharge of liquid from said cylinders/as each is moved into communication.

14.' In abeverage dispenser, a support carrying an inlet port and a discharge port, a measuring cylinder rotatably mounted on said support, `a `piston reciprocally mounted .in said cylinder, means urging said piston toward one end of said cylinder, stop means between said piston andthe other end of said cylinder, said first end of said cylinder being adapted to be subjected via said inlet port to the influence of a source of liquid under pressure, thereby causing said liquid Vto enter said cylinder and displace said piston until the latter engages said stop means and defines a predetermined measured quantity in said cylinder, and means for removing said cylinder from the influence of said source and placing it in communication with said discharge port through which said liquid is dispensed.

15. In a beverage dispenser, a supporting plate, a shaft extending through said plate and having its axis 90 with respect to the face of the plate, a member having a central hole therein journaled on said shaft Vand movable on said plate, aplurality of measuring cylinders in said member parallel to and equidistant from said central hole, means for rotating said member on said plate in steps to cause said measuring means to traverse a circular path, a series of inlet ports disposed in said plate and along said path, a discharge port also positioned in said plate and on said path, said steps being the same in number as the number of ports and each of the latter communicating with aV diierent cylinder as said member comes to rest at the end of each step, said inlet ports each adapted to have individual tanks of carbonated water connected thereto, whereby the tank connected to the first port in the series ills said each cylinder as it comes into communiu cation therewith at the end of each step and I eventually, after repetitive fillings therefrom, its pressure becomes lowered and the carbonation of the water therefore is weakened; each of said measuring cylinders being adapted, in traversing the other'ports in said series to have its contents strengthened by fluid contact with the carbonated i water in the other containers at higher pressures.

i6. In a beverage dispenser, a supportingplate, a movable member having four measuring cylinders formed therein, means for moving said member in steps to cause said cylinders to repetithe three aforesaid, said inlet ports each adapted V to have a separate supply or carbonated waterV under pressure connected thereto whereby the supplyV connected to the port encountered by the cylinders after they leave said discharge port may deliver carbonated water thereto until it becomes exhausted following which the source con nected to the Vsecond port encountered by? thef cylinders mayV deliver the waterV thereto.

1'7. In a beverage dispenser, a support, a cylinder and means to move the same in stepsover a series of ports formed in saidsupport, eacli oi said ports being adapted tohave an individual tank of carbonated water underpressure connected thereto, a spring loaded'piston in said cylinder urged Vtoward Vsaid support and Y the ports therein with a predetermined force;

whereby, as the dispensing progresses the'pres- Y sure of the rst tank-of said series encountered by said cylinder becomes reduced and is unable -to ll the cylinder against said force, and whereby Y the complete lling of said cylinder may be effected by carbonated Water at a higher pressure from the next tank in said series as said cylinder is stepped forward to communicate with another of said ports connected tosaid last tank. Y

18. In a dispensing machine, a positionable member having a series of vertical cylindrical cavities and a series of vertical companion cavities formed therein, a support', means to advance saidmember along a fixed path in predetermined J1 steps on said support; a discharge nozzle on said support having joining passages therein, one of which has one of said cylindrical cavities in coinmunication therewith when said member comes to rest at the endofreach step, and the other of which has one 0f said companion'cavities in com- Y munication therewithy at the same time; xed plate means contacting the uppery surface of said member, whereby said membervslides in contact Y with both said support and saidplatemeans,

said plate means forming a closure for the upper ends oi said cylindrical cavities, means spaced apart from said nozzle for 'delivering carbonated water under pressure to said cylindrical cavities sequentially after each one is moved out of' communication with said'n'ozzle, and other means also spaced apart from said nozzlefor delivering a non-carbonated liquid to said companion cavities after each one is moved out of communication with said nozzle.

19. In a beverage dispenser, a body member rotatably mounted on a shaft, 'a support plate Vin contact with one end of said member, a head plate in contact with the other end of said mem? ber, a plurality of'measuring Vcylinders formed inV said body, and having their ends closed by said plates, a plurality of auxiliary cylinders also formed in said body adjacent to and forming companion cylinders for said first cylinders, a plurality of stationary intake ports formed in said plate, a stationary discharge port also formed in said plate, means for arcuately advancing said body a distance substantially equal Vto the distance from the center of one of said cylinders tothe center of the next, at least one of said intake ports being connected to a source of liquid under pressure, at least onesyrup delivery port, formed in said head plate and positioned on (a path traversed by said auxiliary cylinders, said syrupport being connected to a supply of syrup, and a discharge nozzle in communication with said dischargeport and also in communication with .a companion cylinder whose main cylinder is at said discharge port.

20. In a beverage dispenser, a plate member forming a support, a shaft extending Vbeyond one surface of said support, a body member rotatably mounted on said'shaft in fluid ltight relation to the surface of said support, a pluralityof Ineasuring cylinders formed in said body substan-i tially equidistant from the center of said shaft.

said plate and valved into communication With 5 said cylinders by the movement of said body in said arcuate steps, said intake ports being connected to an equal number of sources of carbonated liquid under pressure, the steps of advance of said body at least coinciding with the positions of said ports, whereby cylinders filled with liquid from said intake ports have their pistons displaced by said liquid and may dispense said liquid via said discharge port under the urge of vsaid pistons as said body is advanced. 15 1,638,067

JAMES E. STEWART.

22 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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